Q I realize that much of your readership is in the “get off my lawn” crowd, but why even bother to publish letters like that from Ken Davis about parking problems for homeowners who live near apartment complexes?
Ken’s complaints seem to be that many current apartment residents were not fortunate enough to buy homes in the area 30 years ago, that apartment-dwellers have the audacity to own cars without owning a garage to park them in and that no one seems to be in a hurry to tow legally parked cars in order to give Ken a less-obstructed view out of his living room window.
Where’s the logic here? Do homeowners think that people park their cars in an inconvenient place to purposefully annoy them? Where else are people supposed to park if they don’t have a private space?
Please understand that the forces that have brought thousands of apartment-dwellers into the neighborhood are the same ones that have sent property values skyrocketing over the past 30 years. If you aren’t willing to deal with the reality of an increasingly crowded area, there are lots of people who would be willing to purchase your house and the guaranteed parking spots that come with it.
Bryce Warwick
San Jose
A That might beat paying $3,000 to $4,000 a month for rent — forcing many to cram five, six or seven people in a two-bedroom apartment — and the desperate searches for a place to park blocks away.
There will be a couple of meetings later this month to consider a parking-permit program in West San Jose. They haven’t been scheduled yet; check San Jose City Councilman Chappie Jones’ website, sjdistrict1.com, for updates.
Q Wait a minute, Mr. Roadshow. Why aren’t these apartment projects being forced to provide adequate parking for its residents? That is the issue!
John Francis
San Jose
A A difficult issue, and perhaps an unsolvable one. Most apartment complexes are required to have one to 1.5 parking spaces per unit. To require more would eat up more pavement or lead to parking garages, which I am certain would not sit well with nearby homeowners.
Q I’ve not visited Santa Cruz in maybe 20 years, but I used to go fairly often. Now? I’m not sure it’s worth the effort.
Seems like every weekend traffic is backed up on Highway 17 to Camden Avenue or even to Hamilton Avenue, along with all side streets. If it’s noon and you’re stuck at 17 and Camden, what time can you reasonably expect to be in Santa Cruz?
Aside from the obvious recommendation to get on the road early, might it be quicker to go south on Highway 101 and come up through Watsonville?
Paul Rekieta
San Jose
A At noon, expect it to take as long as 90 minutes to get to Santa Cruz from San Jose on Highway 17. Your best bet is to be on south 17 before 9 a.m. or after 2 p.m. As for 101, it’s a longer trek but may be an easier one. Try using Waze on this route.
Q I’m a former Midwesterner trying to adjust to driving in California. Is it OK to turn left on a red light? I see folks doing this so often that I’m wondering if it’s legal here.
Scott Fosdick
A It’s legal as long as it’s from a one-way street to another one-way street. You must stop at the red light first.
Follow Gary Richards at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com or 408-920-5335.
